Extensible drop-leaf table



Patented June 3, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

Ihis invention relates to an extensible table and it is an object of the invention to provide an improved table of this character.

Extensible tables conventionally employ one or more independent leaves, drop leaves, or pull-out leaves. All of these devices for increasing the area of a table top have their individual disadvantages. The independent or separate leaves are awkward to handle and storage space must be provided therefor when they are not in use. The use of such leaves also requires a split table top, at least one portion of the top being slidable with respect to the base of the table. This inherently results in an unstable construction. Drop leaves are undesirable because they prevent the use of the one or more edges of the table when they are in their hanging or inactive position. Drop leaves are also subject to being marred when not in use because of their vulnerable position. Pull-out leaves have none of the disadvantages of the independent or insertable. leaf or the drop leaf, but are notoriously unstable and,

because of the necessarily complex structure associated therewith, add considerably to the cost of manufacturing a table.

According to this invention, extension leaves are linked to the table in such a way that they may swing from a position overlying a main table top to a position alongside thereof. The simple linkage provided for this purpose causes the finished surface of the leaves to be always uppermost whether the leaves are in their folded or extended position. The table top thus formed is very rigid whether in the folded or extended position, it presents no storage problem, it is economical to manufacture, and all sides of the table may be used whether the table is in its folded or extendedposition. An extension leaf so arranged is sufiiciently rigid that in accordance I with one embodiment, of this invention a drop leaf is mounted on the outer edge of the extension leaf whereby the table top can be expanded still further. In accordance with one specific embodiment of this invention, the table top is made rotatable with respect to the base or frame of the table whereby the base, normally disposed underneath the main portion of the table top, can be made to extend outward and support the extension leaves.

Accordingly, it is another object of this invention to provide an extensible table which is inherently stable.

It is another object of this invention to provide an extensible table, all sides of which are available for use whether the table is in its folded or extended position.

It is another object of this invention to provide an extensible table having leaves which are stored as apart of the table when not in use.

It is another object of this invention to provide an extensible table in which extension leaves are linked to the table for movement between positions overlying a fixed table top and positions alongside, the fixed table top.

It is another object of this invention to provide an extension leaf for a table, such leaf being linked to the table for movement between a position overlying a fixed table top and a position alongside the table top.

It is another object of this invention to provide an extension leaf for a table, one surface of such leaf being always uppermost whether such leaf is in its folded or unfolded position.

It is another object of this invention to pro vide an extensible table, having extension leaves of the character described, in which the table top is rotatable with respect to the table frame whereby the frame can be made to support the extension leaves. I

It is another object of this invention to provide an extension leaf having a drop leaf connected thereto.

It is another object of this invention to provide an extension leaf for a table, such leaf having' the various advantages stated above while being simple, rugged and economical. This invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, in which like nated by like reference numerals:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a table illustrating one embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation view of the same table shown in a partially extended position;

Fig. 3 is an elevation view of the same table in another'partially extended position; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectionalview taken along the line 4gi of Fig. 1, showing one form of linkage for an extension leaf in accordance with this invention. f p

The table shown inthe drawing has a main, relatively fixed table top portion II, a pair of extensions I2, and a pair of drop leaves I 3, all supported on a base structure I4. The leaves I2 are connected to the fixed tabletop II by links I5, each of these links being pivotally connected at one end to the fixed portion II, preferably at the edge adjacent the lower surface thereof, as

parts are desigportion II.

may be plainly seen in Fig. 4. The other end of each link I5 is pivotally connected to the extension leaf I2, preferably at the lower surface thereof.

It will be readily apparent that the extensions I2 may move by virtue of the links I5 between a position atop the fixed portion of the table top I I, as illustrated in Fig. 2 and in dotted lines in Fig. 4, and a position immediately adjacent the fixed portion I I, as illustrated in Figs.

1 and 3 and by the solid lines in Fig. 4. In the latter position, the upper surfaces of the fixed portion I I and the leaves I2 lie in the same plane.

. It will also be apparent that the surface of the leaf I2 to which the link I5 is connected will U always be lowermost whether the leaf is in its folding position, as in Fig. 2, or its extended po:- sition, as in Figs. 1 and 3. Accordingly, only one surface of the leaf I2 need be finished, this surface always being uppermost.

The; link I5 is bent to form a horizontal leg I5a and a vertical leg 15b so that the link can extend up over the edge of the fixed portion II when theextension leaf is in the folded position.

The link may be connected to the fixed portion at If two extension leaves I2 are employed, it is desirable that when the leaves are in their folded position, their inner edges abut and that their :3. outer edges extend to or beyond the edges of the fixed top portion I I, as seen in Fig. 2. In this case, it will lie-apparent that the length of the horizontal leg 15a, of the link should equal approximately one quarter of the width of the i fixed top portion! I. 'A single extension leaf may also be used, and in this case the width of the leaf should be equal to or slightly greater than the width of the fixed top portion and the length of the horizontal 'leg I541 should be approximately one-half of the width of the fixed top portion. When the leaf I2 is in its folded position, it rests securely upon the central portion II, strips of felt or other soft material preferablybeing secured to the lower surface of the leaf inorder to prevent marring of the upper surface bf the fixed portion II. The sides of the fixed portion II and the inner edges ofthe extension leaves are preferably beveled in the manner shown in Fig. 4 in order thatthe leaves may move to their extended positions without striking the upper edges of the sides of the fixed top portion.

According to the embodimentillustrated, the

' entire table top may be revolvedQO degrees about a pin I 4a such thatthe long dimension of the lower table structure I4 extends outward beyond the longitudinalsides of the fixed table top i This action is diagrammatically illustratedin Fig. 1 in which the two positions of the lower table structure I4 are shown in dotted lines A and B. When, the base structure I4- is in the position designated as B in Fig. 1, it serves as a solid support for the leaves 12. in their extended position. The rotatable table top is not a necessary feature of this invention and ordinary pull-out brackets or swinging brackets may be used to support the leaves I2.

Whether the leaves I2 are supported by brackets or by the base table structure I4, they are inherently so secure and are :so situated that drop leaves I3 may be connected thereto for further extension of the table top.

When the base I4 is in the position designated by the letter A in Fig. 1, and the extension leaves are in their folded positions, the drop leaves I3 can be supported by any suitable brackets such as swinging brackets I6 attached to the longitudinal sides of the base. The brackets I6 must lie entirely below the lower surface of the center portion II, at least when the brackets are in their folded position, in order that they will not interfere with the movement of the extension leaves to their extended positions or with the rotation of the table top with respect to the base. In view of this and since the lower surface of the drop leaf I3 lies in the same plane as the upper surface of the center portion I I, as may be seen in Fig. 2, it is desirable to employ spacers such as cleats Isa attached to the lower surface of the drop leaves as this will permit the bracket to support the drop leaves at the proper level while swinging about a vertical axis. Alternatively the cleats may be omitted and the brackets 26 arranged to move slightly upwardly as they swing to their outward extending position as shown by the phantom lever in Fig. 2.

The drop leaves may alternatively be supported by the ends of the base It when the extension leaves I2 are folded and when the base is rotated with respect to the table top to the position designated B in Fig. 1. It is apparent then that either the extension leaves I2 or the drop leaves I3 may be supported by either the ends of the table base I4 or by the brackets I6.

When it is desired to extend the table top to its maximum length, the base is preferably rotated to the position designated by the letter B to support the extension leaves I2, and a second set of brackets such as pull-out brackets I'I, mounted on the ends of the base I 4, are employed to support the drop leaves I3. Where a non-rotatable table top is used, a telescoping bracket or other suitable bracket may bear ranged to extend outward of the longitudinal edges ofthe base I4 to support the extension leaves or the drop leaves, or both.

It will be apparent that the extension leaves I2 have numerous advantages over the various conventional extension leaves. When the leaves are in their folded position, the present no storage problem as they are located immediately above the fixed table portion II. When the leavesare in either this folded position or in their extended position all sides of the table are available for use and the leaves are inherently very stable since in the folded position they rest directly-on the fixed table portion II and in the extended position they rest flatly on either the-rotated base portion I4 of the table or on brackets of any desired form. No complex linkage or table con-- struction is necessaryas is the case in-a conventional pull-out leaf; Since theextension leaf I2 is inherently stable, it is practical to; hing e a drop leaf thereon in order to, obtain still further extension of the table top, the drop leaves hanging'down over and concealing the edgesofthe center portion when the table topisin its folded position. I

The preferred embodiment, in which the table top is rotatable and in which drop leaves are hinged to the extensions I2, has-a particular advantage in that it provides particularly rigid support for the leaves I2 whereby the latter may more securely support the drop leaves, with the brackets for supporting the drop leaves being connected to the base portion M of the table iminediately adjacent the hinged edge of the drop eaf.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and it is, therefore, contemplated to cover by the appended claims any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention having thus been described, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In an extensible table, a rectangular central top member, an extension leaf, a drop leaf, a rectangular table base for supporting said central member and said leaves, and a link connecting said extension leaf to such table for movement of said extension leaf between a first position overlying at least a portion of said central member and a second position alongside said central member, one surface of said extension leaf being uppermost in both of said positions and one edge of said extension leaf abutting a longitudinal edge of said central member when in said second position, said drop leaf being pivotally connected to a second edge of said extension leaf opposite said abutting edge, said base being rotatable with respect to said central member about a vertical axis between a normal position and a rotated position displaced 90 from said normal position, said base when in said normal position being entirely covered by said central member and the ends of said base extending outward of the longitudinal edges of said central member when said base is in said rotated position, one of said ends of said base when in said outward extending position being adapted to support said extension leaf in said second position and being adapted to support said drop leaf when said extension leaf is in said first position, said base having an extendible bracket at said one end of said base, said bracket being adapted to support said drop leaf when said base is in said rotated position and said extension leaf is in said second position.

2. In an extensible table, a rectangular central top member, an extension leaf, a drop leaf, a rectangular table base for supporting said central member and said leaves, and a link connecting said extension leaf to such table for movement of said extension leaf between a first position overlying at least a portion of said central member and a second position alongside said central member, one surface of said extension leaf being uppermost in both of said positions and one edge of said extension leaf abutting a longitudinal edge of said central member when in said second position, said drop leaf being pivotally connected to a second edge of said extension leaf opposite said abutting edge, said base having an extendible bracket adjacent said longitudinal edge thereof, said bracket being adapted to support said extension leaf in said second position and to support said drop leaf when said extension leaf is in said first position, said base being rotatable with respect to said central member about a vertical axis between a normal position and a rotated position displaced from said normal position, said base when in said normal position being entirely covered by said central member and the ends of said base extending outward of the longitudinal edges of said central member when said base is in said rotated position, one of said ends of said base when in said outward extending position being adapted to support said extension leaf in said second position and being adapted to support said drop leaf when said extension leaf is in said first position, said base having an extendible bracket at said one end of said base, said bracket being adapted to support said drop leaf when said base is in said rotated position and said extension leaf is in said second position.

LARS G. LARSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 101,545 Tilton Apr. '5, 1870 125,827 Menzer Apr. 16, 1872 1,751,586 Kimp Mar. 25, 1930 2,053,659 Gisser Sept. 8, 1936 2,129,041 Allred Sept. 6, 1938 2,162,032 Rudman June 13, 1939 2,301,563 McFall Nov. 10, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 401,305 Great Britain Apr. 24, 1934 

